News & Announcements

Centenary College Honors State Organization for Therapeutic Riding

07/29/2013, 12:23 PM

Hackettstown, NJ – HRH of New Jersey (Health and Recreation Through Horses of New Jersey) was honored recently with the Dominick V. Romano Award at Centenary College’s Commencement. This award is named in honor of Dominick V. Romano, President and Chief Executive Officer of RoNetco Supermarkets, Incorporated, for his generosity and vision that made possible the incorporation of community service into Centenary’s curriculum in 1991. This annual award recognizes individuals or organizations who are role models for Centenary students as they explore and come to understand the impact they can have through service leadership, a hallmark of the Centenary Experience.

HRH of New Jersey was selected for this honor for its outstanding work on behalf of the over 30 therapeutic horsemanship programs in New Jersey. HRH was founded in 1980 by Dr. Octavia Brown, professor of Equine Studies at Centenary, and Barbara Isaac, retired director of Handicapped High Riders of Allentown, N.J. Their vision was to create an organization that would represent the interests of New Jersey-based therapeutic horsemanship programs at the state level. HRH lobbies in favor of the needs and considerations of clients with disabilities, ranging from horse use statutes to land conservation legislation and open space decisions. HRH also hosts national and regional conferences and offers a variety of educational opportunities for therapeutic riding professionals in the tri-state area. Thanks to fundraising efforts, HRH offers scholarships for New Jersey residents to attend national and regional conferences and instructor certification courses.

“HRH of New Jersey was an ideal recipient for the Dominick V. Romano Award this year,” says Nancy Paffendorf, Dean for Community and College Affairs at Centenary College. “Its work has made such a difference in so many lives, and it is a pleasure to honor it in this manner.”

Centenary students volunteer their time for community service at Therapeutic Riding At Centenary, a member of HRH of New Jersey. In addition, Centenary offers a PATH-approved (Professional Association for Therapeutic Horsemanship) instructor training course for future therapeutic horsemanship professionals.

For more information about HRH of New Jersey or the TRAC program, contact Dr. Octavia Brown at browno@centenarycollege.edu or (908) 852-1400, ext. 2174.

Founded in 1867 by the Newark Conference of the United Methodist Church, Centenary College’s academic program integrates a solid liberal arts foundation with a strong career orientation. This mix is designed to provide an educational experience that prepares students to succeed in the increasingly global and interdependent world.

Centenary College’s main campus is located in Hackettstown, N.J., with its equestrian facility in Washington Township (Morris County). The Centenary College School of Professional Studies offers degree programs online and in two locations: Parsippany and Edison, and at corporate sites throughout New Jersey. The School of International Programs recruits international students for study at Centenary and Centenary students for study abroad.